This course is intended to review and discuss state-of-the-art developments in the cognitive neuroscience of attention and action control. The selection of topics is intended to change from year to year but will focus on the experimental analysis of action-control mechanisms in the widest sense including, for instance:
emotional processes
intentions and conscious awareness
or self-regulation by inner speech.
Each course meeting aims to provide a deeper insight into the theoretical background of a current research interest—with an emphasis on controversies—and will be based on one or two publications, which either review a substantial body of recent research or make strong statements reflecting the different perspectives on the particular controversial issue.
On the basis of further reading assignments, each student will orally present a topic (using Power Point), and stimulate, lead, and organize further discussion in the group.
On the basis of the seminar meetings, each student will prepare an essay, which consists of a critical review of the literature relevant to the chosen topic, and recommendations for future research.
Coordinator
Prof.dr. B. Hommel
Room 2B05
Tel: 071 5273714, (0629023062)
E-mailaddress: hommel@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Aim(s)
Students gain an overview of recent theoretical developments in the area of action control and a deeper insight into the relationship between control processes and brain functions.
They get a better understanding of how modern techniques to analyze brain processes and careful, creative experimenting can inform psychological theorizing.
They practice how to analyze associated methodological and theoretical problems and how to develop,communicate and defend their own opinion.
Literature
A selection of articles, available on Blackboard
Examination
20% active participation
20% oral presentation
60% research proposal
From January 1, 2006 the Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted the Ephorus system to be used by instructors for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. Please see the Additional Rules and Regulations, section 6.
Requirement(s) for application or advice
Knowledge level as exemplified by Gazzaniga, M.S., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G.R. Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind. W.W. Norton, 2002. 2nd Edition.
Education method(s)
Seminar, Workgroups (supervised and unsupervised).
Application
Introduction and enrollment for courses of the first semester will take place August 28th 2008. Introduction and enrollment for courses of the second semester will take place in January 2009. More information will be available at the website of the Department of Psychology.
NB: Exam and re-exam registration will take place via U-Twist, and will be open between a month and a week before the (re)exam. Students who don’t register, cannot participate in the (re)exam.
Blackboard
Blackboard site available, enrollment mandatory.